High-calcium vs high-phosphate intake and small artery tone in advanced experimental renal insufficiency

Disturbed calcium-phosphorus balance significantly contributes to uraemic changes in large arteries. We examined the influences of high-calcium and high-phosphate intake on small artery tone in experimental renal insufficiency.

Sixty-five rats were assigned to 5/6 nephrectomy (NTX) or sham operation. After 15 week disease progression, NTX rats were given high-calcium (3%), high-phosphate (1.5%) or control diet (0.3% calcium, 0.5% phosphate) for 12 weeks. Then isolated segments of small mesenteric arteries were studied using wire and pressure myographs.

Subtotal nephrectomy reduced creatinine clearance by 60% and increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) and phosphate 12-fold and 2.7-fold, respectively. High-phosphate intake further elevated PTH and phosphate (33-fold and 5.5-fold, respectively), while the calcium diet suppressed them (to 3.5 and 62% vs sham, respectively). Ventricular B-type natriuretic peptide synthesis was increased, and blood pressure was 27 and 18 mmHg higher in NTX rats on control and phosphate diet, respectively, than in calcium-fed rats. Vasorelaxation to acetylcholine was impaired by approximately 50% in uraemic rats, and was further deteriorated by high-phosphate intake, whereas the calcium diet improved endothelium-mediated relaxation via nitric oxide and potassium channels. Small arteries of all NTX groups featured eutrophic inward remodelling: wall-to-lumen ratio was increased 1.3-fold without change in cross-sectional area.

High-phosphate intake had a detrimental influence on secondary hyperparathyroidism and vasodilatation, whereas high-calcium intake reduced blood pressure and PTH, alleviated volume overload and improved vasorelaxation in experimental renal insufficiency. Therefore, alterations in the calcium-phosphorus balance can significantly modulate small artery tone during impaired kidney function.